[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 60-03, July - September, 2006 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

20th Pep Rally
another success story!

By Duncan Macgregor, on behalf of the APOC gang!

On June 20, 2006, our International chorus and quartet representatives to Indianapolis received a wonderful sendoff. Approximately 500 Ontario Barbershoppers and their friends packed the Capitol Banquet Centre in Mississauga for a great night of harmony and fellowship.

The Association Of Past Ontario Quartet Champions (APOC) wishes to say “THANKS” to a number of individuals and groups for their input and for their assistance as we celebrated our 20th consecutive annual PEP RALLY.

We want to say thanks to the 28 chapters who reserved 53 tables at the event, plus to Polaris (Ottawa Quartet) for reserving a table.

We say thanks to the Scarborough Dukes for providing the risers for the evening (and specifically to Don Nadeau for delivering them and taking them away after everyone had left for home).

We say thanks to our sound technician, Jim Price, to our emcee, Neil Aitchison and to our program director, Ray Danley for their efforts in making the night so successful.

Once again, we say thanks to Greg Backwell for making three of his wonderful prints available for the draw (how many years has he supported the Pep Rally with his gifts?).  

We say thanks to a few who helped set up (Jamie Marr) and take down (Sandy Todd) for their efforts even though they are not yet APOC members.

We say thanks to the Ontario District for donating two registrations for the fall convention in Kingston for the draw.

We say thanks to those many quartets and choruses who entertained us with GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREAT music throughout the evening (Play it Again! even came from Ottawa to participate).

We say thanks to Bob’s Yer Uncle for putting themselves into the draw (another $1,000 was raised as a result of their unique contribution).

And, we say thanks to our International quartet and chorus representatives for giving us a taste of what was to come in Indianapolis.

But, most importantly, we say thanks to those who attended the 20th Pep Rally.

Your support allowed APOC to hand over $10,500 to those going to Indianapolis, plus at least another $1,500 is earmarked for our Senior’s representatives to International in early 2007 (it could be more, depending on the number of Ontario quartets eligible to compete).

Our 21st Pep Rally will be held on Tuesday, June 19, 2007.  If you missed the 2006 version, we encourage you to mark the date on your calendar now—it’ll be another GRRRRRRRRREAT Ontario barbershopping event.  You don’t want to miss it!     k